14 November 2010

Motivation of my filming of my TSA encounter

A lot of commenters are saying that they agree with my position on the whole issue of TSA overreach, but many of them (and also those who disagree) are asking why I filmed the entire incident. Many are suggesting that my starting the recorder is evidence of an intention to pick a fight with the TSA. As I've stated repeatedly, I checked to see if SAN had AIT machines before flying. I tried to avoid the machine once I arrived at the airport. I did everything I could to avoid a confrontation with the TSA. I'll admit that "if you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested" was not the most artful response, but I was trying to add some levity to a situation that I knew could escalate very quickly. The reason I started the recorder before placing it in the bin, though, is because of stories like this:

After reading stories about what the TSA had been doing, I wanted to avoid them, but I also wanted to be prepared should I be unable avoid them. That recording was to protect my rights and theirs. At no point have I bashed the TSA agents or their handling of the situation. They were all professional, if a bit standoffish, but the standoffishness is not to be unexpected. I'm sure they deal with people far more unruly than me every day. The only time I lost my cool was at the very end when the TSA representative tried to force me back into the screening area instead of simply allowing me to be on my way. The entire incident should be judged on its merits (as demonstrated by the recording), not by whether I tried to bait them (which I did not).

So, the next question is obviously, "what do I expect to get out of this?" I don't want to be a hero; I simply want to draw attention to what is going on and give people a sense that they're not alone in the fight against the ever expanding erosion of liberty. I had this to say in response to another commenter about what had transpired:

Every attempt to blow up a plane since 9/11 has been stopped by passengers after the government failed to provide protection for them. Every incident, however, has been met by throwing more money and less sensibility at the problem. Aside from securing the cockpit doors and the realization by passengers that they must fend for themselves because they're more likely to be killed by a hijacker than flown safely to their destination where the hijacker's demands can be met, security is largely the same as it was before 9/11.

The only thing changing is the amount of money being spent on the problem and the constant erosion of liberty, and all I did was draw attention to this. If you want to argue that the airlines are private, you're preaching to the choir. I refused the x-ray machine, and then I refused a groping by a government official. I mildly protested, and when they told me that I could submit to the screening or leave the airport, I left peacefully. The only time I got angry during the entire encounter was when I was unlawfully detained and threatened with a lawsuit and a fine.

If you think the government is protecting you, ask yourself this: If the official at the end of the video thought I had an incendiary device, why would he want me to go *back* into a small area crowded with hundreds of people instead of leaving the airport as quickly as possible?

Obviously the issue of the private airline industry mingling with the government handling of security is more complex than that. For example, with private handling of security, the screener may choose to overlook victimless crimes like drug possession or possession of sexually explicit (but otherwise legal) materials or paraphernalia during a search for dangerous items (i.e. those that could be used to commit acts of terrorism). The government, on the other hand, has, does, and will use the search for dangerous items as a pretext to arrest you for anything else they may find.

This would be a GREAT link to add to your blog for those who might not be able to take a stand and NOT fly as you did. But they can still make a LOUD statement. www.stopgropingme.com "Official TSA Groping Guide T-Shirt" I saw this on WOIO News

Probably planned, at least in the sense that he anticipated the possibility of a confrontation, and was prepared to a)escalate it through provocation (hence the "if you touch my junk I'll have you arrested" comment; and b) film it.

Nonetheless, it served as a test of the system, and an honest one. The confused, contradictory response is unnerving--particularly in the final segment, where, after having escorted him from the area, he is being told of what is being done "for his benefit". Embarrassing.

I don't think I want to fly anymore, I can't in good concious let them grope me or xray me. I usually travel alone with two small children and there is NO way they are putting my babies in that scanner or touching them. Car trips until liberty is restored

You people are a bunch of idiots. There has not been another attack in the U.S. due to more stringent security procedures and standards. Have any of you ever traveled outside of the U.S.? If you think that the TSA is invasive, try Israel.

Check your local extortion laws- in some jurisdictions, if someone threatens you with a lawsuit and then fails to sue you within a certain time limit, they can be charged with extortion. Or coercion, perhaps. I'm a little fuzzy on it, and of course it varies from state to state.

Hello, I am a 62 year old grandmother who loves to fly--I have family in California and go about 2 times a year--I will not be subject to a body scanner or pat down ( unless its Robert Redford and only after dinner ) but seriously I will be driving across country from now on--maybe my measly few hundred dollars a year won't mean much to the airline industry but if enough of us band together and refuse to fly-- someone somewhere may get the message--we have a saying in retail security--you can't treat customers like thieves and you have to treat the thieves like customers--what say you TSA !

It sucks to hear that you had such a bad experience, no passenger ever wants to be violated, but I hope you noticed the "no camera/video" signs around TSA that have been there for decades, and that you realize that by recording the events that took place on your cell phone is actually a federal crime, so don't be surprised if you get contacted and subsequesntly arrested for it.

If you don't want to be touched - then go through the body scan! It's not going to kill you or give you cancer! You agree to the security measures of airports at the time you purchase your ticket. The airport is the domain of TSA, it isn't your house where you get to make the rules! Stay home if you don't like having to deal with the rules of the world! If you think San Diego is bad, you obviously have never been out of the USA! You are an idiot and I wouldn't want to be on a plane with you so I am glad they wouldn't let you fly!

...yeah, from his account one would think he was the victim. There are two sides to hear before the truth can be known. Unfortunately there are some who look forward to create conflict to gain attention as "Hero"; and others who regularly seek routes to bring litigation.

"I hope you noticed the 'no camera/video' signs around TSA that have been there for decades, and that you realize that by recording the events that took place on your cell phone is actually a federal crime"

I hope you understand that there is nothing morally wrong with breaking an unjust rule. The goons at the TSA work for us, not the other way around. People absolutely NEED to start their cameras rolling for their own protection.

"If you don't want to be touched - then go through the body scan! It's not going to kill you or give you cancer!"

I think I'll take the concerns of the UCSF biochemists over your wild hopes and speculations. http://www.scribd.com/doc/35498347/UCSF-letter-to-Holdren-concerning-health-risks-of-full-body-scanner-TSA-screenings-4-6-2010

@ anonymous "You people are a bunch of idiots. There has not been another attack in the U.S. due to more stringent security procedures and standards. Have any of you ever traveled outside of the U.S.? "

Heh. First, the farce that is the TSA is there to make people like you feel safer.

Second, it has actually made us unsafe. The TSA idiot accused this blogger of having an incendiary, and wanted him to return to the screening area? The Sheeple have made us less safe by causing the creation of a massive single-point vulnerability: The monolithic security line. Anonymous mentions Israel.

What don't you ever see in Israel? A concentration of people the size of a TSA screening line. Ever. Thanks for making me less safe.

Oh, and the TSA makes us safe? Well, the front door might be a vault, but the back door is a white picket fence. Take a drive around your airport's cargo terminal. Same pre 9/11 rent-a-cops, same fences, an extra camera (maybe), and very similar procedures. They might not let unclear civilians on the passenger ramp, but they let them in the sanitized zone of the cargo terminals all the time.

I would very much like to know what phone you were using to record the encounter. The audio was really good and I am so glad that you can share what happened to you.

I ask what phone because mine is due for a replacement and I would like to start unobtrusively recording my TSA encounters are well in case something happens. I'd never have thought to leave it recording in the x-ray bin.

I am with you totally. As a frequent flyer I fly 42 weeks a year and have regularly put up with invasions of my privacy. To a limited degree some screening is necessary.

However, the government has now far overstepped their grounds and is violating our constitutional rights.

I have been considering what I will do if subjected to such a highly inappropiate search as you encountered. I believe you did the right thing.

Even if some may think you did or said something not quite right they must realize that this is new ground. Common citizens cannot be expected to know exactly what to say or do when confronted by such authority out of control.

The constitution grants us security in our movement and we are not to be subjected to unreasonable search and seizure. What the TSA is now doing is clearly unreasonable. Unless the government has probable cause or a search warrant clearly stating that we are suspected of a crime based on a reasonable suspecion they have no legal right to perform such personal searches on the citizens of this country.

I am with you and I hope all other travelers also object to such treatment just as you did. I will do the same if asked to subject my person to such a personal invasion of my private parts.

Dude, you're a total bigot with that "I'm-a-white-man-so-you-better-not-f*&k-with-me" attitude that is so typical of most white men! You say as a white man, you don't fit what a terrorist looks like. What color were Timothy McVeigh, Eric Rudolph and Joseph Stack? For you to imply that white men don't commit crimes or acts of terror says a lot about who you are!

First, despite your protestations to the contrary, you initiated a process that you were well aware (by your previous knowledge) could lead to some sort of escalation no matter how polite and cooperative you were. Plus, the timbre of your video fits well within your blog's "voice" and seems to contradict that "oh, I was just traveling" mantra.

But second, your video effectively demonstrates TSA's overbearing and bumbling reaction to your refusal to be patted down and your offer to accept a wand pat down. I was appalled to hear a TSA official tell you that you gave up certain rights when you bought your ticket and that flying was a "privilege". But the most offensive statement was from the unidentified TSA official trying to coerce you back to the screening area with the threat of a lawsuit - the very place they escorted you from!

So, John, whether you orchestrated this or not, I'm more concerned with TSA's obvious lack of preparedness to handle the situation that you posed to them. From a security standpoint they had to do something to mitigate the "risk" that you injected into their airport and passenger safety model.

But it's painfully obvious from their erratic and nonsensical response to your challenge - from screening area to airport lobby - that the TSA lacks cohesive leadership and direction to handle this simple scenario appropriately. It makes you wonder how they'd react to a real threat?

Go by bus, go by train, drive your car there. Yes, it will take longer, and yes it will be less safe. But you'll avoid TSA agents.

If you're going on vacation, stay home and visit local attraction. If you're going to some event, find another, local event you could go to instead.

Let's make TSA policies hurt the airline industry and the service and tourist industries. When airlines start hurting because of what the TSA is doing you can bet they'll start complaining loud and long to the DHS and the TSA about what they're doing.

Drive yourself, or don't go. Let's see how deep the recession gets before the government gives in and rescinds their actions.

Since I do not want to punch some TSA sicko I do not fly any more. I used to fly 2 or 3 times per month. No anymore.The full body scans are a new stupidity during this presidency. These are new machines that also produce radiation. A respected socialist will never condone the humiliation of the population that is taking place at the airports. The way they touch women, little boys and girls SICK very SICK SICK …TSA=pedophiles wet dream job.We are so tired of this OBAMA government. I am a democrat that voted all Republican this time. Counting the days to see these guys gone!! He has damaged the Democratic social agenda so bad !!!We stopped flying. TSA is just a bunch of sickos and the OBAMA government does nothing. They are so off to the needs of people.

I am a democrat that voted all Republican this time. You want my vote you better listen. I have already e-mailed my future governor and my future senator about this aberration going on. Have a look at this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJGvsAgpfig

By the way I used to be a super duper frequent flyer. Those with special privileges. Not any more, the airline industry will be destroyed the same way they destroyed technology, manufacturing, etc.

I stand behind you 100%, and agree that the TSA and and the AIT machines are an incredible waste of money and time, truly a burden on everyone. However I do find it disengenious the amount of FUD there is concerning the radiation exposure from the AIT machines, they are perfectly safe. You receive more radiation from eating a banana than you do from these machines, and several orders of magnitude more radiation from flying at 35,000 feet. Basically it panders to paranoia and distracts from the fact, lets be honest about these machines because the radiation safety inst the issue here, its the fact they are a complete waste of money and don't make us anymore safe that is the problem!

The suggestions by people, here on this blog and elsewhere, that, "If you don't like it, don't fly. Flying is a privilege and not a right," is not only asinine, but unrealistic. I think there's an underlying assumption that only the rich and privileged fly, therefore they should be punished for it. But there are those of us, myself included, who have to occasionally travel for work. And it makes absolutely no economic sense to spend several days, car-rental, gas, hotel and food expense, not to mention increased time out of the office (decreased productivity time) to drive across the country for business when one can fly there in a couple of hours. So take that "Just don't fly," argument and trash it, because it's worthless and irrelevant.

Someone else has commented that he/she wants to be scanned, and wants everyone who gets on the plane to be scanned to be sure of safety. Well, again, irrelevant argument, as this person is a) posing no threat or probable cause for this search of the body, therefore scanning him/her is pointless; and b) they _don't_ scan everyone...it's random. They either pull everyone from a particular line the travelers have the misfortune to stand in, or else they take every "x" number person in line. They're not screening 100% of passengers, so the fact that this screening is as random (or subjective) renders it ineffective. Don't think the terrorists are willing to gamble with these random odds?

I had the misfortune last month to be pulled out of line and selected for the AIT. For the record, I am a physically fit female. I politely declined and said I would take a female pat-down. One TSA agent yelled into the radio, "We got a female opt out here!" while a second one approached me and threatened me with how "very invasive" the pat-down would be, even going so far as to pantomime the part where they get to the torso. Beyond my personal modesty...which I think I should be entitled to retain...I have concerns about the safety of exposure to some unknown levels of radiation. It should concern people that they are applying men, women, and children with the exact same level of exposure, regardless of body mass. Needless to say, since I interrupted their process, and they had to close down the AIT while they dealt with me, they were grumbling about it. One even threatened that I would have to have a man do the pat down. But they did produce a female TSA agent, who was calm and matter of fact, and professional. Nevertheless, it was intimidating, nerve-wracking, and slightly embarrassing, and the only thing I was guilty of was wanting to get home to my husband and children. The entire incident did _nothing_ whatsoever to make anyone safer. I liken this security policy to allowing the police to randomly pull over citizens (after all the roads are public, and driving is not a right, no?) and having them submit to a search of their vehicles, and rigorous and invasive physical search.

I agree that our rights as American citizens are slowly being revoked. There is a breaking point that will occur to which I believe this erosion will come to a halt. This incident, and getting the word out in an informative manner, as you have done, will help get us to that breaking point.

The other root cause to situations such as these, is the inability by those in "authority" positions to make good decisions on scenarios that fall outside the norm. Personal opinion ("spoiled brat") and emotion then get in the way. You see this time and time again in all kinds of situations that become news.

John,the American Revolutionary War may have started with the battles of Lexington and Concord, but I consider the actual "revolution" to have truely begun with the quiet, unheralded refusal of small shop owners and ordinary citizens to comply with the overly obtrusive, imperious day to day demands of the British Crown authorities. That was the tipping point, after which history took its course. Who knows, you could have been the one snowflake that triggered the avalanche.

'In many cases that have been reported to me, when air travel passengers request to opt out of the naked body scanners, they are humiliated and nearly accused of being insane by TSA officers who keep questioning why they won't go through the scanner. Some TSA officers even start debating with people as if they are somehow trying to convince them the scanners are perfectly safe.

One TSA agent told a female passenger that the naked body scanner "is perfectly safe even if you're pregnant" and that it "wouldn't be harmful to the baby." Really? How do they know? Sure, they say the radiation levels are so low that you actually get more radiation just from flying at high altitude, but how do they know the radiation from the machine is calibrated correctly? CT scans are commonly found to be way off their configurations, to the point where they actually leave radiation burns and cause people's hair to fall out (http://www.naturalnews.com/029232_r...).

Are we really to trust that the TSA has configured these machines correctly? It is especially difficult to trust an agency that hires people to run X-ray-emitting scanners who don't even know their scanners emit X-rays!etchttp://www.naturalnews.com/030395_TSA_X-rays.html

"Dude, you're a total bigot with that "I'm-a-white-man-so-you-better-not-f*&k-with-me" attitude that is so typical of most white men! You say as a white man, you don't fit what a terrorist looks like. What color were Timothy McVeigh, Eric Rudolph and Joseph Stack? For you to imply that white men don't commit crimes or acts of terror says a lot about who you are! November 14, 2010 11:21 AM"

Joseph Stack is now being included in a list of people referred to as "Terrorists"?? He was just a looney hell-bent on getting revenge against the IRS. He killed one person and himself in his act of stupidity. I think the definition of Terrorist is being used a little too broadly in today's society.

Speaking as someone who had an awful experience getting through security at Schipol this past September, this nonsense boils my blood. These invasive searches need to stop. I had to step into one of those new X-Ray machines after I forgot the rules and attempted to bring a gift set of Belgium beer on a plane. As I was heading to my flight, I looked over my shoulder and could see the guards divvying up the bottles. No, seriously. Classy!

In a very short time the TSA has claimed the title of the most hated and feared government agency, something that was no small task given the oppressive nature of our IRS! Thank you for standing up to a corrupt and abusive system. Your story made me smile; it is encouraging to know that not everyone is rolling over and accepting a pat down that should be reserved only for dangerous criminals who are in the process of being arrested.

One reason why 9/11 happened is because the Bush administration ignored warnings and briefings from the Clinton administration, and they downgraded terrorism as a threat.

There were subsequent attacks in the US, albeit with no fatalities.

I believe I read that one of Bin Laden's objectives was to cause us to give up our freedoms and suffer economic harm by crippling our transportation industry.

He's completely succeeded.

Since you can surgically conceal explosives in your body, or hide them in your vagina (like Paris Hilton does with her cocaine - allegedly) or anus, the general Fox News watching population may eventually understand that there is no such thing as perfect security.

As a currently serving, combat decorated veteran, regular Army Officer, I offer my deepest apologies for my professions failure to win "good enough" to prevent things like this from occurring in our nation.

My guys and I will keep trying - if only we were allowed to fight unencumbered. Apparently, we did not learn the right lessons Viet Nam. We know who the enemy is and where he is - across some imaginary line.

I am sure all those people who were on the planes on 9/11 had wished that there have been full body scans in place. I am 100% behind the scans and 100% against Mr. Tyner's behavior, it was that of a childs. He should not be allowed to fly. Grow up, Mr. Tyner and then you can fly again!

Good for you, John. It disgusts me how many Americans just stay silent and allow themselves to be herded like cattle by our government. To the anonymous poster who just commented above, you're exactly the kind of person I'm referring to. Nobody who is up in arms about these invasive tactics by TSA are saying there shouldn't be security, we're saying these methods go too far in eroding our civil liberties and do nothing to make us safer.

I went thru this thing not knowing it was a body scanner. Just filed a complaint with TSA earlier this week for not posting or warning of such scanner and providing options. It appeared to be a regular Metal detector. After the Body scan, I was still subjected to torso pat down... absolutely no metal on body.. yet. Havent traveled in over a year and hence it was new for me.

my husband went threw this all deal.. he got so angry that his sugar went up 400 level the next few day was not able to drive.... he got site blinded. had to go emergency to the doctor and noe guest what???? HE IS GOT DIABETES. he never had it he is a young man. for the rst of his life he is going to be sick. so now i think what you did was absolutly FINE GREAT I SALUT YOU. we are taking tsa or whoever are responsible for the decisions to court and if i were you you do the same thing.... we need to pull together and stop THEM.... this is a rEminder to all of us what the palestinians are going threw and what the guestapo did to the JEWS.

TSA’s use of AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology [millimeter wave & backscatter X-ray {ionizing radiation}]) has serious potential health risks that should not be taken casually.

The following personal history, regarding ionizing radiation, seems to be very relevant today.

In late 1965, I was assigned to the medical staff that was taking care of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, Oakland, CA). The admiral was concerned that his health issues might have had some of their origins in the early unshielded RADAR used on some of the naval ships he was on during WW II.

To that end, the admiral requested the presence of his friend, Dr. John W. Gofman, M.D., Ph. D. (at the time, Director of Biomedical Research Division and Associate Director of Livermore National Laboratory). Dr. Gofman, who worked on the Manhattan Project (Glenn T. Seaborg's team that discovered Pa-232, U-232, Pa- 233 and U-233), was asked by the AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) to evaluate “the health effects of all types of nuclear activities”.

His research concluded “that human exposure to ionizing radiation was much more serious than previously recognized” and " 'by any reasonable standard of biomedical proof', that there is no threshold level (no harmless dose) of ionizing radiation with respect to radiation mutagenesis and carcinogenesis."

One of the main concerns of Dr. Gofman was that the effects of ionizing radiation are manifested 20 to 40 years later in the form of cancers and ischemic heart disease.

Although Dr. Gofman was considered by many of his colleagues to be a "crackpot", he nonetheless was the foremost authority in our country of the biomedical effects of ionizing radiation. Supportive research originally published on PubMed.gov has sadly been hidden and the abstracts are not available on this site. Please check here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed to view 97 published abstract titles. The abstracts are available on his own website below.

FYI: The following URLs tell about the late doctor and offer a wealth of supportive documentation.

PART ONE: TSA’s use of AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology [millimeter wave & backscatter X-ray {ionizing radiation}]) has serious potential health risks that should not be taken casually.

The following personal history, regarding ionizing radiation, seems to be very relevant today.

In late 1965, I was assigned to the medical staff that was taking care of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, Oakland, CA). The admiral was concerned that his health issues might have had some of their origins in the early unshielded RADAR used on some of the naval ships he was on during WW II.

To that end, the admiral requested the presence of his friend, Dr. John W. Gofman, M.D., Ph. D. (at the time, Director of Biomedical Research Division and Associate Director of Livermore National Laboratory). Dr. Gofman, who worked on the Manhattan Project (Glenn T. Seaborg's team that discovered Pa-232, U-232, Pa- 233 and U-233), was asked by the AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) to evaluate “the health effects of all types of nuclear activities”.

PART TWO: His research concluded “that human exposure to ionizing radiation was much more serious than previously recognized” and " 'by any reasonable standard of biomedical proof', that there is no threshold level (no harmless dose) of ionizing radiation with respect to radiation mutagenesis and carcinogenesis."

One of the main concerns of Dr. Gofman was that the effects of ionizing radiation are manifested 20 to 40 years later in the form of cancers and ischemic heart disease.

Although Dr. Gofman was considered by many of his colleagues to be a "crackpot", he nonetheless was the foremost authority in our country of the biomedical effects of ionizing radiation. Supportive research originally published on PubMed.gov has sadly been hidden and the abstracts are not available on this site. Please check here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed to view 97 published abstract titles. The abstracts are available on his own website below.

FYI: The following URLs tell about the late doctor and offer a wealth of supportive documentation.

Really? For deciding he would rather leave the airport than get groped or X-rayed, he should be PROSECUTED? Do you realize what you're saying? You're the first person I've encountered who *actually* hates freedom.

Everyone is turning on their phones and recording now. That is the only reason they have you turn off your electronics...because they don't want to be recorded on how bad they always screw it up. I am serious about that.

I was just thinking of going back to SD to live and read your blog. I have traveled extensively but not for the past two years. Now, I may stay put because I wear hijab and know first hand what it is like to be searched in the US, the Middle East and Europe. I have had enough.

Thanks John for standing up for our God given rights of higher morality.

How ironic TSA posts "no camera/video" and then proceed to take semi-naked pictures of people and if they don't get to they grope you.

Sorry but I do travel out of the country and have not seen anything like what is in the US. I would not mind it if I thought it was doing any good. I accidentally took and 3" pocket knife in my carry on a month ago and found it half way through my international flight (leaving the US) when I was looking for a pen.

PS anyone with a fake boarding pass and an ID can get through TSA security check point. They never check to see if the boarding pass is real. They just check the name on the boarding pass to the ID to the person in front of them.

A quick skim through the comments and I didn't see a particular point made.

I really don't have a problem with these new screening procedures. I just think that we should apply them sensibly. By this I mean, let's screen the people who fit the profile. Blue haired ladies from Iowa aren't trying to blow-up planes.

We know who the enemy is. Why are we all so afraid to say it? It is Muslim terrorists who are trying to kill Americans, predominantly from the Middle East but also from Europe. When did it become racist to tell the truth in America.

I'm an American who lives overseas and hasn't been back to the US in five years as I won't put up with the B.S. American security. It's completely unnecessary and the height of paranoia.

I now stay in Asia, where airport security is at a normal level but, then again, Asia isn't paranoid and frightened of everything.

It's no wonder the US economy is going down the toilet. I read the tourist industry has lost a lot of money since 9/11, as people all over the world simply won't subject themselves to crazy security at US airports.

I support your position and your actions pertaining to your TSA experience. I think you handled yourself well. The only sadness I feel is that so few have enough backbone to stand up as you did. As a military retiree, I am astonished at how easily others surrender their well fought for freedoms.

You are lame..You are making a huge fuss over nothing..Go through the body scan and be on your merry way...now you have gotten a taste of what being singled out is like, others have been through worst....Grow up and be a man...You sound like a lam-o computer nerd...

Good for you. I just went through a similar incident at DIA. I was told I didn't have an option to refuse the scanners. Then I had to still take off my belt and shoes, and plastic sunglasses from around my neck.

The TSA operates an elaborate ruse meant to seem like security, but in reality it is massive Federal over reach that needs to be checked. I would fire all of those morons, close down the TSA, hire some Israeli consultants, start profiling everyone in the airport and have roving patrols of bomb sniffing dogs.

Result? It leaves the normal people alone, the profilers spot the suspect targets because of race, age, disposition and dogs keep everyone on their toes and cause the bad guys to remain nervous (see disposition above).

I think it's obscene that this stunt is garnering such outrage and attention and yet women are being raped and worse in the congo and we worry about a little *junk* being touched? Americans are way too worried about their *rights* and not enough about their responsibilities. I won't waste any more time on this nonsense. There are REAL injustices in the world that deserve our attention way more than this *stunt*.

"You people are a bunch of idiots. There has not been another attack in the U.S. due to more stringent security procedures and standards. Have any of you ever traveled outside of the U.S.? If you think that the TSA is invasive, try Israel."

Obviously, you've never flown to Israel. We do it regularly around here and the process is fast and non-invasive. And I've never felt safer. Read this for the right way to do airport security:

"You people are a bunch of idiots. There has not been another attack in the U.S. due to more stringent security procedures and standards. Have any of you ever traveled outside of the U.S.? If you think that the TSA is invasive, try Israel."

(sorry for the double-post - link didn't make it)Obviously, you've never flown to Israel. We do it regularly around here and the process is fast and non-invasive. And I've never felt safer. Read this for the right way to do airport security: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744199---israelification-high-security-little-bother

I really don't care if you set them up or not by your comment. This process has long been moving out of control... 6 years ago they made me relinquish my mayonnaise that was accompanying two hard boiled eggs I was taken on board for lunch. It was no more than 2 tablespoons in volume. This whole process is government out of control. I have no need (at the moment) and no desire to fly. This is one more way they are adversely effecting the overall economy.

Please contact me. We would like to interview to interview you for The Vinny Eastwood Show with Will which is produced in Auckland, New Zealand and heard on 21 Radio Stations. Please email me as soon as you can. The show is distributed by American Freedom Radio.

It's disgusting how many of you people are just throwing away your rights in the sense of this false security! When has the TSA ever caught a terrorist? Never. These porno-scanners certainly aren't going to help them catch one either. Kudos to you John for being a free-thinker and a patriot! These sheeple are going to wake up one day in a police state America and think back on the good ol' days of our country and wish they would have taken a stand like you! My husband did not fight 2 tours in Iraq to have both him, his family, and the rest of the law abiding citizens of this country to be treated like criminals for no reason. TJob well done sir!!!!

When will the full body cavity searches start? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_cavity_search

If they are done to ensure prisoners do not smuggle in contraband, aren't they necessary to really guard the flights? All this intrusion and subjecting citizens to xrays and it still really doesn't provide 100% protection from these people willing to do anything to accomplish their mission? We look like fools doing all these things, violating people and no guarantee they will prevent a disaster. 1000s of people, 1000s of supplies, many many employees and these Gov employees doing what they do discovering nothing, 99.99% of the time. Becoming lethargic is inevitable and thats what our foes will be patient for.

Hey people, wake up. You congratulate this guy for circumventing the security of our countries airports?!?! Well what are all of you going to say when your plane is screaming into the side of a building or the guy next who tries to light his underwear on fire is the guy sitting in the row behind you? Are you going to be bitching about having to get a full body scan then? Give me a break! All of you need to open your eyes and see the real threat out there, it isn't a TSA security guard, it is a 16 year Taliban recruit being trained right now on how to sneak something explosive onto a plan heading to the U.S.A.! John you are an idiot! Why don't you enlist in the military and go serve in the Middle East and see if you are hung up on a body scan at the airport then. On the heels of Veteran’s Day we should be praising our troops rather than this dip shit! We are free for a reason and it’s not because of assholes like John!

I keep on reading comments akin to "It is what you accept if you want to fly". I wonder how those people will feel if they next decide that they need to examine up to your cervix and inside your rectum. You can pack a pile of C4 up there no? Some among us could stash the entire makings for a dirty bomb. Hmmm... pun intended? OK yes - sorta. The whole thing is ridiculous. But as for John - what a fab way to get out of a FIL w/e. I stand with John. - Zooey S.

This groping of people, especially women and children, is completely outrageous. I think that everyone in this country should stop flying except for those people who absolutely must fly to keep their jobs.

I really hope this gets straightened out before next summer. My husband and son are supposed to be going on a trip with the Boy Scouts to a Boy Scout camp in Arizona. My husband is an assistant scoutmaster and they have to have a certain minimum number of adult scout leaders for each trip they do. It would be a shame if the trip had to be cancelled. If anybody tries to touch the private parts of our 14 year old son (or any of the other boys) my husband will stop it and will cancel the trip right then and there. And the boys and their leaders will have paid hundreds of dollars for a trip that they didn't get to take. The money is not refundable. My husband is retired military and any TSA agent who starts a fight with him will be sorry. I will let all the scout leaders know to take videos of their encounter with TSA and if anything bad happens we will provide copies to every television station in town.

You want it to stop? Do as stated above, stop flying and tell the airlines why. You can also start by suing the TSA agents for sexual battery, sexual assault, if your child is involved - go for pedophilia assault to your child . Don't try and sue the govt, sue the TSA agents. May it cost them, make them hire the lawyers to defend them selves. It will stop.

You go! You obviously didnt have a flea infested beard or dirty turban on your head like Im sure others there did! This incident is because of muslims! If anyone should be strip searched and checked inside and out its them!

They had no right to attempt to molest you! By the way, did you get to fly or not?

Why don't you just man up and forfeit your civil liberties? It might not be pleasant, but these measures are being taken for OUR safety. I've been thinking a lot about these recent TSA measures, and have to ask: why stop there? Certainly we would be safer if we weren't allowed to leave our houses. No more accidents, no more theft, and no more assault. I say we ALL man up and petition our congress for marshal law and curfews! It'd be a small price to pay for our safety.

You know if you hadn't recorded that video, you absolutely would have a civil suit against you as they would have claimed you were exceedingly uncooperative. That is why the guy was egging you on at the end...dropping "uncooperative" at every point he could.

I'm planning on traveling with my 3 year old for christmas. I am not at all comfortable about my 3 year old being felt up anywhere near her genitals...let alone someone actually touching them. I plan to record any encounter myself. No, I do not want to set TSA up. I want to avoid them. However, there is no shortage of the lack of professionalism of TSA workers (google it) and they simply can not be trusted in the end. Only a camera can seem to save you these days.

One final point, NO WHERE on TSA's webpage does it state that the vagina, penis or breasts will be touched or fondled. But across the board, people seem to be claiming that they are, infact, touched...some claim fondled. In either case, this is not explained on TSA's website. They need to be more specific. When you tell me you are touching my "torso", I'm expecting you to run your hands up the side of my body. That doesn't mean grab my breasts...that doesn't mean touch my vagina. Just as in the extreme case, it does not mean a cavity search (after all, that would include the torso). And did anyone notice how the TSA worker never actually explained that he was going to touch the mans testicules? He said he would touch the inside of his thighs and stop when they hit the torso. If at any point they are going to touch a persons genitals, this needs to be WELL KNOWN prior or the guy is very likely to punch him. As I said, TSA is not making it clear on their website nor in person what is going to happen.

Those who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.

I have chosen not to board an aircraft, if subjected to TSA AIT or physical search. Hopefully more will do the same, and the airline industry takes notice of the impact that this supposed security imparts.

Wait a second....Why is everybody getting so amped up about these body scans!? They are for our safety! TSA is not trying to "get fresh" or abuse our privacy. They are trying to make sure that people with weapons do not get on the airplanes. Would you rather have your "junk" touched for a brief moment? Or have it blown off mid-air?! Think about it...Geezz people..Take the sticks out of your behinds! Had we had these body scans, 9/11 could have very been much provented!!

If a terrorist chooses to place C-4 in their rectum, then how is a pat-down going to help. Right. It isn't. So what's the point? The people that are going to do this are already ahead of the game. Besides, who says it's even going to involve planes???? It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. And totally unpredicatable. At this point, it would not take much to decimate the economic structure of the United States. Look at how much damage a perceived threat does than an actual one. I'm sure they are laughing their asses off, with everyone over here running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

I have read through your last three article regarding this incident and just want to say a few things:

1) THANK YOU!!!2) GOOD FOR YOU!! America needs more patriots for liberty such as yourself.3) I HOPE the TSA sues you so you can counter-sue the HELL out of the TSA and the Fed for having "authorized" this disgusting act!!

Buying all these expensive full body scanners is a brilliant use of tax dollars if anyone can Opt Out. If they are so safe, why don't they force people to use them or not fly? My problem with those scanners is if they malfunction and you have to rely on that typical TSA person to realize something is wrong with it. Not exactly physicists or radiologists running those things.

What a loser!. Security mesures are here for a reason - to keep idiots off from getting on the plane in the first place,and in this instance it worked well! Saved some poor person from sitting next to him and getting sued because maybe they got too close to his 'junk'. Quite an appropriate name for his lack of manhood too!Thank got he did not get to go hunting, probably would have 'done a Dick Cheney' and shot his father in law.FRIGGIN IDIOT!!

One could argue that the current airport security is less secure. They are making large groups of people congregate in a small area. Anyone can walk freely into that group with a bomb and cause many casualties. There should be layers. Every person entering the airport should be first checked with a metal detector and their baggage should never get near a crowd of people. But, they just ad lib this process each time some moron tries something new.

Anonymous @ 8:30: If you think for one minute that a pat-down on someone is going to protect you, you sir, are "the friggin' idiot". Get a clue as to how these terrorists operate, will you? By the way, your ignorance is showing.

Get ready. They are going to charge you with video taping a TSA screening area. They will seize all your computers, hard drives, phones and zip drives. Get ready for that. They like early mornings.... KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.... door falls. I would suggest you get one of those clock video recorders they sell in the airline travel mags. Maybe you can bring us that encounter, too!

Good for you for standing up for your rights as a person who has ownership of your body. As a women who has been sexually assaulted I fully support your use of that phrase. I would be terrified of a "groin search" but would be too embarrassed to explain that it would be emotionally traumatic for me, thus my "consent" would be out of fear. Perhaps your bravery will prompt officials to rethink the effect of these searches. Thank you for bringing this issue to light! You have inspired me to explain my point of view (courteously) to TSA. Thank you!!! - Lizz

I just wanted to thank you for standing up for the rights that we should have. I don't find either of the choices acceptable and would not want my child put through that either. They have gone too far and there has to be a better way. What's next - a chip in our body to track our every move for "our safety"? Again, thank you for your bravery and doing the right thing. Also Americans should boycott airline travel as much as possible. I would not fly unless it was a true life or death situation under the current circumstances.

If you look at your entire blog it is obvious you are out to spark interest in you and your blog. Nobody is giving you the time of day because in the end that is the new security rules and as soon as something goes down and it could have been caught by a scanner the government is at fault. Blamed by yourself no doubt in future blog post. Instead of taking on the TSA line officer, go and speak to your Congressman/Senator who allowed it.

I understand that for security purpose it is required to know if somebody is hiding anything in the private area, but is groping required? Can't there be any other non-invasive way of finding that out? There are so many scientists in the world man. Can't somebody come up with some better idea.Technology never always solves the problem, I don't believe the machines are safe. I have a feeling that too many occasions will lead to some kind of disease like cancer.

GREAT GOING! WE NEED MORE CITIZENS TO ENGAGE IN SUCH CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AS YOURS TO GAIN BACK OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. THIS CURRENT POLICE STATE/SURVEILLANCE STATE BEING PUSHED IS CONSTANTLY GRABBING POWER AND TAKING OUR LIBERTIES AWAY IN A FEAR-MONGERING PERPETUAL WAR AGAINST THE ABSTRACT CALLED TERROR.

Good for you for having the presence of mind to record this and I say if ol' Janet Reno wants these machines so much make HER slide thru em aaaaalllll the time...lets see what she'd think about being molested too! Pure police state tactics and nothing else!

Thank you for stepping up and standing up for your civil rights. I have previously conceded mine and allowed TSA agents to go beyond the procedural pat down and actually massage my manhood. The act of which left me speechless each time. I had a medical doctor fired for doing less, and yet, these people get away with everything because they work for Uncle Sam. It is so wrong. I support you 100%.

By the way, everyone needs to record everything. I sure am going to start.

Reading these postings have been an eye opener.The ignorance and lack of critical thinking displayed regarding this subject truly saddens me as to our countries future. Whether it's radiation issue's or privacy, Americans are put off and resonate with others in disgust for the symbol of bloated, intrusive government control they know nagging in the back of their minds is not right.They instinctively know it is wrong and feel helpless most times as to what to do about it.Perhaps with this incident, they'll begin to have a better understanding of how to help stop this.

It just amazes me that the Fed Govt has SUED Arizona to stop them from inquiring if an illegal alien has an ID after they're stopped for probable cause. For an ID! Yet the TSA can molest you or your child without a search warrant!!! This is outrageous that the fed govt gives more rights to an ILLEGAL than a LEGAL citizen.

Thank you for making your situation known. We have to stand together and work to eliminate this idiocy at the airport. Be sure to write or call your representatives and senators. Citizens united CAN make a difference!

John - thank you for having the courage to stand up to these TSA goons. I work in aviation, but will not fly on a jet if I have to go through this ridiculous screening. It makes me so mad that we are paying big bucks for coercive leftists to put us through this crazy religious exercise so they will feel better while making us all LESS SAFE! Thank you again for exposing this wild hypocrisy.

As a victim of sexual assault (who has been inappropriately touched by a TSA employee) I don't feel comfortable being frisked. Not even a little bit. I wish I did, but....I also don't feel comfortable with the government taking (possibly keeping?) and looking at photos of my naked body (with a machine that may or may not be altering my dna and increasing my risk of cancer).I'm sure there are millions of other people in my same situation. Why is this "worth it" again?

You started the recording because you knew ahead of time you would object and in all likelihood it would start a confrontation. Why did you even go there? To prove a point? If you are such an expert on why the current security measures won't work, then how about offering some real solutions instead of just criticizing and making phony arguments like sexual assault. We do not live in the same pre 9/11 world we once did. I believe we should give our fellow Americans that are trying their best to protect us the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. In the meantime, share some of your brilliance in a constructive way. I'm sure we'd all like to hear that.

John, thank you for what you did. Those who post to lamblast you for what you did are myopic fools. Just because they don't mind government taking pictures of them naked, or subjecting them to radiation exposure, doesn't mean that you are not standing up for what is right. Those fools obviously can't think beyond themselves. They don't understand a pregnant woman's concern about how radiation might affect her fetus. They don't understand that some people might have recovered from any form of cancer. They don't understand that nude photos of children worry people. They don't understand that victims of sexual assault would be tramatize by either someone taking their nude photos or feeling them up. They don't understand that many people simply do not want their genitals and private areas photographed/viewed or touched by strangers.

I understand why you did what you did, and I don't believe for a moment that you were trying to set up the TSA. When I read about these new idiotic measures, my own thoughts was that I will refuse and opt out, and if they want to feel me up I will videotape the process. If they were't molesting people then they should have no reason to fear the videotaping. I totally understand why you did what you did. It is the only and last line of defensive measure left for individual citizens, who have absolutely no control for this mistreatment and civil rights violation.

Good for you for standing up for yourself, and indirectly, for the rest of us.

I do fly a lot around the world because I love to travel. And like some other posted above, I am currently an American live overseas. But I vow to never fly domestically in the US or fly out of the US until these idiotic measures are removed. Right now, Canada is an option for those who wish to fly out of the country. Canada has installed the millimeter wave body scan (which is apparently not cancer causing as the backscatter scans used by the US) AS A SECONDARY MEASURE at limited airports only and for FLIGHTS INTO THE US AT THE US' REQUEST (now who'd have guessed). So if you live up north you can drive or take a train to Canada you can avoid the body scan and fly out from Canada. If you live down South you can consider driving to Mexico to fly out. Yes it is more costly and more time consuming. But this is an option if you want to fly to another Continent.

And I second another poster above. If they dare t sue you, you set up a legal defense fund. I will contribute.

To the sheeples who are criticizing you, if you sheeples think this will make you safer, you're delusional. The terrorists intending to hurt people will not be stopped by this. They can blow up sports stadiums during the Super Bowl or the World Series. They can still blow up the Sears Tower. If they want to cause damage and kill massive number of people, there are plenty of ways to do it. What's next, body scans and molestation pat down to watch a baseball game or eat an apple pie during the Macy's Thanksgiving parade?

John, just want to drop you a note of support. You did the right thing. I do not believe for a second that you planned on setting up the TSA. In fact, after I heard about the body scanners and molestation pat down, I thought that I would turn on my own cellphone video if the TSA tries to molest me. It is our last line of defense as individual civilians.

Don't listen to the sheeples who criticize you. They're myopic and self-centered, and don't understand that recovering cancer patients, pregnant women who fear radiation effects on their fetuses, rape victims, or parents with children, concerns for radiation exposure, or for that matter, anyone who value their privacy and are not exhibitionists like them have legitimate concerns for not wanting those scanners. People have should not be touched in their privates by strangers, and no government worker should be given the blanket power to feel up the private parts of thousands of strangers without probable cause.

John, Ignore those that criticize your actions. Lately, I've been wondering if we had any Americans left, and I'm glad to say that you passed with flying colors! Good on ya!!

As an airline pilot at a major airline, I've been flying for over 33 years. The security you see at the airport is eye-candy. They put on a show so that the public thinks the government is doing something. People want to see action. They don't care if there are actual, tangible results. Israel has long been purported to have the toughest airport security in the world and they don't have any of these machines. I won't waste space explaining what they do, but it's available from a quick online search.

As anecdotal evidence, my 19 year old daughter came home a couple of weeks ago via airplane. On the drive home from picking her up, she discovered she still had her pepper spray on her key ring. Stuck it right on the machine at the airport and it went right through. Also, I've accidentally transported a knife with a 4 inch blade in the same manner (it was in there from a recent fishing trip.)

It's eye-candy, it's an attempt to mitigate our freedoms and condition the population at large to acquiesce to the power of our ever growing government. It's also designed to enrich the manufacturers of these scanners. Government enriching their corporate supporters has been a long and notorious tradition.

So, fight back, and fight hard. Our constitution is just one generation away from becoming irrelevant. Don't let it be ours that takes the fall...

BTW, phooey to the "for safety's sake" crap. I fly all over the world all the time. All the measures of the TSA are a joke. If terrorists meant to cause harm and massive killings, these crap measures won't do a thing. They can blow up a sports stadium during the Super Bowl or the World Series. They can blow up the Sears Tower or the Golden Gate Bridge. So what's next? Body scans and molestation pat downs to those attending a sports game or eating apple pies at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade?

If anything comes of this, I too will pitch in $$$ to help with penalty fees. This is absurd and much respect for standing up to your rights. Big Government has been overstepping their boundaries for far too long.

"It sucks to hear that you had such a bad experience, no passenger ever wants to be violated, but I hope you noticed the "no camera/video" signs around TSA that have been there for decades, and that you realize that by recording the events that took place on your cell phone is actually a federal crime, so don't be surprised if you get contacted and subsequesntly arrested for it."

Perhaps, in some parallel universe, the TSA has existed for "decades." Fortunately, they haven't in the real world.

"I am sure all those people who were on the planes on 9/11 had wished that there have been full body scans in place. I am 100% behind the scans and 100% against Mr. Tyner's behavior, it was that of a childs. He should not be allowed to fly. Grow up, Mr. Tyner and then you can fly again!"

People who want to take over planes have options whether scanned or not. If we really want to delve into this subject, the people on the planes on 9/11 might wish that they had stood up to the terrorist whack-jobs taking over the planes instead of being frightened little sheep and ALLOWING the planes they were on to be flown into buildings... Realistically, my argument is as asinine as yours... the thinking on hijacking was obviously different pre-9/11. As for the effectiveness of full-body scanners, even Hollywood has shown us how useless these are when up against criminal networks. As previously stated, the "back of house" at the airports is a security sieve - anyone can get in. You've obviously never heard of "weapons of opportunity" either. Oh well, you probably think that gun control keeps criminals from getting guns too. I laugh.

The majority of people have been neutered and are in a deep sleep as the forces of darkness have taken control. Its always only a few who resist the evil.The Globalist elite don't target the enemy they refuse to identify but the average law abiding American infidel. They go out of their way to lie to us and tell us that Islam is a religion of peace when it is not.This is what happens to a nation which turns away from the light God gave it.The darkness invades the void and it's getting darker by the day.'The wicked shall be turned into hell,And all the nations that forget God.'Psalm 9:17America is on it's way to hell !

I'm a 50+ year old grandmother of three who flies to visit the kids at least three times a year. I am singled out for extra screening every single time I fly. (Some have suggested that it's because my clothing is loose, and though it's meant to conceal the loss of my girlish figure, apparently they think it conceals other items, as well.) It is almost amusing that in my forgetfulness in packing, the tiny Swiss Army knife on my key-chain has made it through security, while I stand aside and have my underwire bra "palpitated," hoist my shirt so they can skim my waistband - front and back; and in one instance, entirely remove my shirt, leaving me standing in a camisole, because the TSA agent insisted it was a jacket. I've been afraid to make a fuss, but no more. Thank you.(Incidentally, my cousin, also a grandmother, was recently allowed to fly with her crochet hook, but her toothpaste was confiscated. "Stand back, or I'll minty-fresh you!"

I am in 2 minds regarding this incident as am sure many of us are - Security vs. Personal Freedom. Which one is more important? A good balance is, of course, ideal. But that is a very difficult and complicated state to achieve as there are many variables that change constantly. Just as we adapt to the times, so do terrorists and it is an ongoing cycle.

As a one who lost a dear friend in 9/11, it is very difficult to see people in airports refusing to be searched. Yes, I agree that a large % of us do not fit the profile of terrorists and are your average travelers who just want to get to their destinations and have witnessed them to be unnecessary searched. But again, we are not supposed to be profiling right? That is why we are randomly pulled out to be patted down or more.

We clamor for our rights of privacy, freedom, disclosure etc.... And at the same time require that our govt protect us. We criticize that not enough or effective precautions are being taken yet we are so against the measures we currently have. It is like requesting a guard dog without a bark for fear that the bark may give someone a heart attack.

Security is an ongoing process. It will never be perfect because as we get better so will the terrorists. Let's be part of the solution. For those that feel their personal freedom violated, do you have better ideas that will not compromise our safety and vice versa? I know I don't. Even if anyone did, just remember that as soon as it is put in place, there will ALWAYS be someone who will find a weak link.

If we were truly a free society, there would be different airlines with different levels of security. Those who wanted to could fly on planes only with people (employees included) who had been searched. It would take longer, and cost more. The rest of us could take our chances. Guess which planes would be full, and which would be empty?This is nothing more than government coercion at its absolute worst. Thank you John Tyner for standing up. It's too bad there are not more Americans with your knowledge of your inalienable rights, and your willingness to stand up for them.Thank you.Burr Hubbell, Pawling, NY

Thanks for the recording - you have shown the TSA to be the stupid goons that they are. They probably won't pursue legal actions since that would only draw additional attention to their clumsy authoritarian bureaucracy. But if they do - start a defense fund since you have many supporters who want to help.THANKS AGAIN!

Anything but profile the true terrorist suspects...political correctness will get us all killed. The poster who mentioned Israel may be Arab - they only target people who fit the profile of dangerous. They are a hell of a lot smarter than we are that way.

To all of you who are so offended by a pat down, by all means, please boycott the airlines. That way when I fly I'll have plenty of room in my seat.

Get over yourselves, I'd be thrilled if they did a thorough pat down of everyone getting on to a flight. Or perhaps you've forgotten about radical Islam. No, these pat downs will not totally eliminate risks of flying (i.e. cargo, shoulder fired missiles, etc..), but it is one piece of an unfortunately necessary solution.

Sickening hypocrisy! The government has created a "right to privacy" so that women can kill their unborn babies, but we have NO right to privacy when we fly?? A government agent can freely molest our children without fear of prosecution? What kind of world are we really living in folks??

John, I noticed that Smeg posted a comment above. She is being modest. The attention she garnered for standing up for the right to her body as her private property is not only good publicity, it is an opportunity. I read through several of your posts...have you heard of the Free State Project? I lived in RSF in north county for many years but am now out here in NH as part of the pro-liberty movement. You might find that you are on the same page regarding political and economic philosophy as a whole bunch of other people. :) In any event, I am co-hosting a radio show tonight from 7-10 EST and would love for you to call in and share your experience. www.freetalklive.com Thanks for being you. Michele Seven

Well, as of last night I saw this on Drudge report and NBC, so it's safe to say that your experience has gone viral. Good for you. Never back down when the government tries to take away your rights. In all honesty this is just the tip of the iceberg and the sheeple are starting to wake up. Social Service workers routinely violate civil rights of the parents and children they investigate. I have witnessed social workers violate state and federal laws, to never be charged or diciplined by oversight. I have witnessed SS workers force a domestic violence victim back into a dangerous home (she was trying to escape)and tell the victim that if she did not return to the home in question she would loose her daughter. I wrote letters to everybody and anybody I though would listen, evey domestic violence awareness group, the goveonor, everybody. I threatened to organize a march on the town involved. The woman had her child returned the next working day. However the SS gestapo workers were not fired or diciplined (even through they broke state and federal laws), and are still getting my tax dollars. When I threatened to publish names and all the evidence I had of a cover up, I had my tires slashed. Wonder who did that?

People it's time to wake up. When the government becomes tyranical, we the people have a right and a duty to take it back, BY ANY MEANS NESSICARY!

In a previous comment - "Have any of you ever traveled outside of the U.S.? If you think that the TSA is invasive, try Israel. "

Which is why they don't use these scanners: "I don't know why everybody is running to buy these expensive and useless machines. I can overcome the body scanners with enough explosives to bring down a Boeing 747," says Rafi Sela (a leading Israeli airport security expert)

Odee in Fredericksburg say; This was exactly the first thought that popped into my mind when viewing the 2nd video.*If you think the government is protecting you, ask yourself this: If the official at the end of the video thought I had an incendiary device, why would he want me to go *back* into a small area crowded with hundreds of people instead of leaving the airport as quickly as possible?*

All the detractors on this blog are a bunch of losers who didn't have the wherewithal to stand up for their own rights, and seeing that you did, are angry at themselves.

Kudos, sir, and as others have said; "If enough folks cease to submit, and boycott these devices (which have been proven to give 10 times the normal radiation you receive from just one chest x-ray), than perhaps things will mellow a bit.

Last thing; I would have demanded to see Gray suits ID and by what authority he was detaining me. He is obviously a cop of some kind... He looked black, so was this raciism with him singling you out so thoroughly?

-----"If you think the government is protecting you, ask yourself this: If the official at the end of the video thought I had an incendiary device, why would he want me to go *back* into a small area crowded with hundreds of people instead of leaving the airport as quickly as possible?"

EXCELLENT POINT. If he truly felt this way, wouldn't he have just had you arrested on the spot, cleared the terminal and have a bomb squad in to disarm the (potential) threat?

Are you people serious? How difficult is it to be scanned or patted down? I doubt the agent wanted to be intimate with you, stop flattering yourself.You want to fly? FOLLOW THE DAMN RULES. Stop whining and crying and suing. People like you and the liberal idiots saying how this is a "violation of rights" are why this country is falling apart. God forbid you just follow their protocols.

I'm not sure it's really fair to criticize TSA policies of pat-downs and using AIT machines without providing some kind of proposal of your own about securing airports. The issue of air travel security is extremely complex, and unfortunately for you, apparently, some of the most thorough ways of investigating whether an individual is hiding something are also the most personally intrusive. I personally have no problem with pat-downs, and I find the whole sexual assault claim to be extremely exaggerated and immature. I'm sure the TSA agent wasn't too pleased about having his hand so close to your groin either.

I understand your position, but taking this stand to the TSA agents was misdirected. The agents are not the decision makers in the process. Your disruption caused a blip in their day, a mess for the travelers behind you, and effected no change. If you really want to make a change, take it to the place where change is a possibility. After you left the airport, the continued doing their jobs as instructed.

Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. I'll be the first to agree that there are some overly-zealous TSA employees out there, but I don't think your situation is clear-cut. To my ear, you were the first to escalate the situation with your threat: "...I'll have you arrested." It sounded unnecessary, to my ear, and it only served to put the TSA folks on the defensive. A more cooperative line of inquiry (eg "How far up my thigh will you be patting me?") could have led to a more constructive outcome, and permitted you to get to your destination. As misguided as a few of the TSA folks can be, let's remember they weren't the ones who started this; the terrorists did. The TSA is there to help us and it doesn't help any of us when passengers resort to threats. They're just people, like you and me, trying to do their job.

"Boo, hoo, I caused a scene and provided subjective scope of my rendition caught on camera. I'm such a victim"... Why this guy feels he should have been handled differently from regulation standard? Seems to be a jerk who likes to cause problems...planned? And what's up with "I'm a white guy who doesn't look like a terrorist"? What if the system as he suggests begins profiling Jerks?

Yes, let's have it your way. Anyone wanting to hijack/terrorize a plane only needs to refuse the body scan, refuse a patdown to the groin area, and make sure they have their weapon of choice (explosive, gun, knife) in their underwear. Let's have two separate types of airlines...ones that have the current security measures in place and ones that have your preferred methods in place. Which one do you think the terrorist will fly?

Good for you, and thank you for standing up for the rights of all of us. It strikes me as really funny that the TSA terrorists would threaten you with a fine and civil suit for refusing to allow them to violate your Constitutional rights in such a way that would put anyone else on a sex offender list for life. There is no evidence that these illegal searches make us safer, or that the TSA has stopped or prevented any terrorist activity. The truth is the gooons at the TSA are the true terrorists, terrorizing anyone who refuses to submit to their fascist strip searches. Best wishes to you.

Good for you TSA is a joke a facade. They are only there to make the public think they are making it safe to fly. There are technologies out there to make it safe but the US won't buy them. I sasy we go back to hired security which is much cheaper and have federal supervisors on site,

Flying commercial air is not a "right" much less flying commercial air and being exempt from minimally invasive security measures as an electronic scan. Thank you TSA for doing your job including dealing with loons that feel the need to make a political statement while holding up the line at the airport.

What you did was make somones job that much harder. All because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. People like you make me sick. Stop being a baby... walk through the scan and get it done with. You wasted their time when they could have been doing something else. What if there was a real threat some where else? Did you think of that? My guess, No!! These people deal with crap all day and you go and make it harder. I've been patted down before... it's not a big deal

I'm uplifted to see that there are a few good people that have some real junk that they are willing to protect! I for one refuse to fly and be subjected to such nonsense. It is a sad day when we see our Constitution shredded in the name of security. Bravo!

janet nepolitano and her homeland security thugs have contributed to the anger in American people then consider us a significant threat. flying used to be an adventure and enjoyable. now it's just plain ugly. but lets not use any common sense right? what garbage. we're going to calif in may 2011. we'll drive thank you.

To "Anon Nov14 10:03am": I have flown to and from Israel (in the middle of their recent problems in Gaza Winter 2009) and nobody ever had to grope me or take naked pictures of me. A couple of very tough looking gentlemen asked me some very respectful questions, looked at my paperwork and told me to have good flight.

Reading some of the comments does not surprise me. Just do what everybody else does mentality is just one of the problems that this country has. I commend you on your action. You stated your position and maintained a firm stance. Good for you. The TSA ass-clowns need to be reminded that they are just fed funded security guards and little more. Hope this gets lots of attention.

I find it amazing that people in our society want to call the TSA thugs and other horrible names. They are doing a job assigned to them from the Federal Goverment as part of a reaction to terrorist. Now I know this gentleman who blogs I am on probably isn't old enough to remember the impact of 9/11 but the rest of us do. You see John, you had an agenda well before you even went to the airport. Your agenda is to see if hopefully the goverment will be buying your home! It is very simple you moron.... if you don't like security screening DON'T FLY!! Flying is a privilege and NOT a right. Therefor, if you don't like the rules that go with flying stay out of the airport. Now part 2... the rest of us normal people who appreciate what the goverment is trying to do. So with that I am going to ask you this one question. Are you prepared to be responsible for a plane blowing up and 100's of people lives lost because YOU don't like the security procedures? Also, about your "junk". It is not a sexual attack... shame on you!! And by looking at you no one would want to grab it for fun... I hope to God, I am on that jury when the time comes!! You are your worst enemy, and this "blog" is NOT going to help your case!! Enjoy club fed

Easy fix.. don't fly anymore!You want to fly? be prepared to give up some privacy for the safety of all.

TSA like any group has good and bad, but most agents are making less then $15.00 per hour. Taking a lot of crap from liberals and pissed off travellers, the responsibility of every plane that has passengers they cleared on it.Imagine 300 people dying from a plane bomb, a plane full of passengers you helped clear. Did you miss something? You want that job? I don't!

So just stay away from airports from now on.

There is NO extreme too extreme for a terrorist who wants Westerners dead. Remember that, no extreme to extreme!

amazing this idiot had this incident on his blog immediately! I say we have someone with an hidden agenda!! Your not standing up for anything. If your such a "man" go to the war zones and be a man!! Join the police acadamy and be a man, learn how our law enforcement have to deal with idiots like you EVERYDAY!!! I hope the TSA puts you away!!!

Good for you. Five years ago, I stopped flying. The last time I flew,I was patted down in Denver while flying "one way" home from a multi-stop trip. All "one-ways" got tagged at that airport at that time. The security agent dumped all my papers all over the floor out of order, which was distressing,then proceeded to touch every personal item in my purse, including tampax and opening lipstick, etc. with some kind of plastic detector and using unsanitary gloves (to protect themselves but not me) on that they had used on other people and touching random other objects. I was subjected to this "search" in front of the public, crying, while they felt me up. I was so traumatized that I cried for twenty minutes afterward and called my husband on my cell phone because I felt like I had been assaulted and violated.A friend of mine was felt up around her large breasts while flying one-way to her father's funeral.It's just gotten completely out of range for decency. Women have been complaining for years about this stranger-touch at airports where they are subjected to being touched and felt up. Children are distressed. Maybe it takes a man saying that this is a form of "sexual assault" to stop it.

You are not obligated to fly. Choose alternate transportation. The jerks at the DMV will check your eyes before they will let you drive, so don't use your car. You would not be the first person to make the walk across the country.

"Flying commercial air is not a "right" much less flying commercial air and being exempt from minimally invasive security measures as an electronic scan. Thank you TSA for doing your job including dealing with loons that feel the need to make a political statement while holding up the line at the airport."

This guy has it exactly right. The TSA staff is doing its job--they're not "groping" you or looking for a free feel or particularly eager to have an inappropriate encounter with you; they're too busy dealing with angry and crazy people all day. When you fly, you consent to follow the security rules of the airline and the airports. If you don't like it, take the bus.

It would be someone from California to be so foolish. I have flown all over the world; however, I am now beginning to drive domestically instead of flying because of all the hasstles at airports. No one is "making" you take a flight anywhere. To fly is not a "right"; it is your choice. If this country's population won't accept profiling, won't accept tne Koran's stated objective, and don't realize that there are some redneck nuts in the U.S., then let's see how arrogant you are if a jet explodes over your parent's house. By the way, what is so special about your "junk" over anyone else's? Do you think the TSA employees enjoy what they do? Invasion of privacy, yes - so don't fly!

Get over yourself. We live in a different world, a world of underwear bombers for crying out loud! What, exactly, is the alternative? They are trying to keep us safe, trying to prevent ever inventive ways of preaching security. Maybe we should get the Federal Government out of our lives and hire Blackwater or some other Halipertincompany to do the job? Just get over it and go move on.

Get over it already, everyone has to go through the security check. That's just how it is after 9/11 they are only doing their job. Sure it sucks when your the one who get randomly checked but thats life. Go through it and get on with your life.

I flew from Tampa to Baltimore Airport in August and I was put through the scanner and patted down both times! When I asked the TSA woman, how do you choose who you put through the scanner and pat down she said "I dunno"!!!

Same thing happened to me yesterday in San Diego! When I finished the scan the man said to me "That wasn't so bad was it?" I said ," I have a problem with the radiation and with the personal privacy issues here." He then said," I need to pat you down", even tho they told me if I took out my wallet they wouldn;t have to. Then they directed me over to another place where they made me stand for a couple of minutes while they set up a chemical test for my hands, then sstand for another minute while they checked the test. I KNOW it was harrassment because of my comments and just intimidation. I totally support you in this as I see us as now worse than the Communists and the Fascists with personal privacy invasion issues.C

Way to go there! Scanners safe? The government said that the air around ground zero was safe too. My thinking is that Americans have to take responsiblity for their own safety. As I told my son after 9/11, "I've got my own Jihad". Once some REAL AMERICANS take on a few of these idiots, I believe the threat will be over. Meanwhile, I have a real problem being groped because I want to use a plane to get me to see my grandkids.

Flying is a right, the TSA is wrong in this instance that they told you you 'gave up those rights' when purchasing your ticket. Further, you didn't purchase your ticket, your father did, so how would his purchase have a binding arbitration on you? It's disgusting watching the TSA be empowered to violate your 4th amendment rights every day.

Title 49 USC 40103

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/49/VII/A/I/401/40103

(a) Sovereignty and Public Right of Transit. - (1) The UnitedStates Government has exclusive sovereignty of airspace of theUnited States.(2) A citizen of the United States has a public right of transitthrough the navigable airspace. To further that right, theSecretary of Transportation shall consult with the Architecturaland Transportation Barriers Compliance Board established undersection 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 792)before prescribing a regulation or issuing an order or procedurethat will have a significant impact on the accessibility ofcommercial airports or commercial air transportation forhandicapped individuals.

Good for you and you are 100% correct! Enough is enough! Everyone should follow your example and this would all end. Do you have an address that we can contribute to help you with any legal fees. You are the man!!

I think this whole thing is nuts. People, you can't have it all. You want safety and security, but don't want to be inconvenienced at all. It doesn't work that way. If another plane gets taken down, you same morons will be screaming as to why there wasn't more security. If you don't like the rules then don't fly, period. Flying, just like driving, is not a right. The only reason the blogger did this, was to feed his ego and get his 15 minuted of fame. He doesn't care if a plane gets blown up and 150 people die. He cares about himself and overinflated ego.

Take the Bus....Train....Moped or Whine Machine. If you don't like it.....don't fly. Maybe, you could get your pilot's license and fly yourself or save your money from flying and get your teeth fixed...lol.

"The right to travel is a part of the liberty of which the citizen cannot be deprived without due process of law under the Fifth Amendment." Kent v. Dulles, 357 US 116, 125.

We have been denied this right by the requirement of a driver license to drive one's own vehicle. The court's argument is that the State has the police power to regulate driving to ensure the welfare of the public. The court further argues that the right to travel is not denied by the requirement of a driver license as one is free to travel amongst the public roads via public transportation, bus, getting a ride from a friend, and FLYING.

Now we give up our Right to Travel again at the airport. Next will be your right to get on a train, then buses, taxis, etc. Eventually every move you make will be controlled by the government in the name of security.

Our constitutional Right to Travel is being limited by the modes of travel and downplayed. Human traffickers hold passport and identity documents so that one can not escape being enslaved, we find this appalling and outrageous, however when our government does it we see it for our own good. Go back to sleep american sheep.

First of all TSA came across as being very professional. They said you had the option of not going on the plane. You cannot go on the plane on your terms. You have to follow the rules. Secondly a body search has nothing to do with "assault" or "molesting" and there is nothing sexual about it and if you think there is you need to get your head examined. It is completely clear that you instigated everything and people who applaud you as a hero are obviously not even thinking. Now if you want to say that this whole process is too intrusive, then fine. Work to change the system, but this is not the way to do it. You come accross as big time ahole...congrats

I totally agree with you and this is probably something that I would have done as well. I did have an incident in LAX last year with a big fat TSA guy. We were late getting to the airport and I put my boarding pass in with my carry on in that plastic container. This guy says I need you Boarding Pass. I said can I just slip over and get it...it had gone through the detector already. He said no you have to wait until someone can get it for you. So this other TSA chick starts fumbling through my stuff looking for the boarding pass. I said just let me go and grab it. He said no...I said we are late for our plane...Tough...The woman finally gave me my pass and I showed it and he promptly used his äuthority to shove me over to one side so that they could manually go through each part of my carry on. I went ballistic. I said you are an idiot and I want your supervisor. The bells did not go off and there was absolutely no reason for them to do that other than him trying to punish me. I got the supervisor and told him what happened and he waved me on and didn't go through the carry on. Otherwise we would have missed our plane. These guys are on a power trip for sure. So what has happened is that criminals have changed our lives forever so we now need to practically take everything off at the airport or let some potential perve feel us up or stare at our naked bodies through some xray machine. It does remove our rights. This is not the first time that I have experienced brash, ignorant, nasty, attitudes from these low level workers. They are on a power trip and that really isn't fair to the millions of people who are innocent and just trying to go from Point a to Point b without a hassle.

Security is not perfect, but it's there to make flying safer for everyone. You know the drill when you purchase your ticket so this seems less about "liberties" and more about getting your 15 minutes of fame... horse's ass.

The TSA drones caused me a very bad trip when they took my ID on the first leg of a round trip, and didn't give it back.

I had to either skip the business trip, rent a car (without an ID, yea right!) and take a two day drive home or subject myself to all their groping and fondling.

Since TSA had possession of my ID, they let me fly with some additional paperwork, faxes and phone calls amoungst themselves. I think the guy in Denver and the guy in Atlanta were doing each other favors... "There's a good one coming your way buddy."

Why is it that EVERYONE in the country other than the Government (TSA) knows and understands that racial profiling (as is successfully done in other countries) is far better than random selection??

While I was being groped, an 85 year old grandma in a wheelchair and a five year old girl with a cast on her arm were selected for extra screening and a businessman in his 50s was selected for random screening while seven bearded muslims paraded past without a second glance.

Yes, TSA, that's where you find terrorists: grandomothers and little girls. They are the very same profile as all the 9-11 hijackers, right?

I completely agree that these measures are a violation of privacy. Hearing the head of TSA confirm that children under 12 years old would not be subjected to pat downs or screening brings to mind that "children" have been used/abused by enemy forces in prior conflicts, by carrying bombs in soda cans etc. and told the explosives would not harm them. Or similar methods. A people or group who hates enough to kill will use even children as a means to their criminal methods of destruction. What an outrage if a child is "used" in such a way and what will the next "security" measure be to avoid that? How far does this have to go before too much is too much? AND what about persons of an extremely modest religious affiliation who object for "religious" reasons to be subjected to full body scans and/or pat downs? Will they be excused? These security measures are well intended and appreciated, but are they really effective? Maybe our experts should humble themselves enough to listen to other country's successful security measures. Just my thoughts.